"Yuki-sama!!!"

Tohru was shocked when she saw how girl students flocked around him like butterflies. Is Ayame-san telling the truth when he said that this guy never had a girlfriend?

"Good morning," greeted Yuki politely, a small smile on his face. One a doting father would give to his whining daughter.

"Yuki-sama, the school prom is coming up, and we are wondering if you have a date already," the leader of the girls began shyly.

Yuki's smile widened. "Ah yes." Tohru's eyes widened when she felt his arm settle on her shoulders comfortably. "As a matter of fact, here she is."

Blank faces from the people.

"Everyone, meet my girlfriend, Honda Tohru. She's a transferee," he said, grinning.

"I still can't believe you said that to them! What if they believe you?" she cried. They were both in the girl's CR so they could talk privately. Tohru was still in the state of shock.

He didn't even court me!

She had no idea that she had spoken her thought out loud. This made Yuki chuckle, but he chose not to mention that to her anymore.

"Don't take this too seriously. It's just a game. A masquerade," he reminded her instead teasingly. "We're the only ones who know the truth. And once we tell Shigure and my brother that we know what they were planning all along…"

"Oh, alright," she sighed. She felt a little guilty, but she had to admit that she didn't like what Aya did, meddling with her private affairs. "So how long will we pretend to be a couple?"

Yuki glanced at his pocket calendar. "Two weeks. Just in time for the prom."

"D-Do we have to do the things couple do?" she asked uncomfortably.

His mouth twitched. "Like?"

Her face started to redden. "Um…"

"Ok, if it would make you feel more relaxed, then I'll set down the limits now." He sat on the sink, looking down at her. "I promise not to kiss you, but I am permitted to hold your hand."

She nodded dumbly.

"I may wrap an arm around you, but I will not hug you."

"Obviously, since you are like Aya-san, right?"

He paused. "Yes."

"A Juunishi?"

"The Juunishi mouse," he affirmed.

Tohru smiled as she imagined how this dashing young man would look like if he turns into a mouse. She giggled softly, not noticing the steady gaze of the young man on her.

"Does my brother transform in front of you?" he asked curiously.

She nodded.

"Weren't you scared ?"

"Well," She tipped her chin thoughtfully. "A little, at first. But then I decided that I love Aya-san too much. So if I see his snake form, I just remind myself that he is Aya-san, and then my fear goes away."

Yuki suddenly felt a grudging envy towards his brother. He sure is lucky to find a girl who loves him unconditionally.

"Will you get scared if I transform into a mouse in front of you?" he asked out of the blue.

She blinked. "Eh?"

"Never mind." He unlocked the door. "Let's go, or people might think that some kind of hanky panky is happening in here." He gave her another teasing smile before opening the door. "Don't forget, Honda-san. I have only one rule here: you are my girlfriend, and I am an incredibly possessive boyfriend. However, I don't want a nagging girl. Do not ask about my personal affairs."

"R-Right."

Tohru was stunned when Yuki appeared by her side that lunch period, holding his snack bag. "Hey there, sweetheart!"

She felt her cheeks redden when her classmates turned her way. "H-Hi." She was careful to keep her eyes down as she took out her lunch.

Yuki sat down beside her. "Let's eat lunch together, shall we?"

"E-Eh? Aya-san and Shigure-san are not here!" she hissed.

"So?" he asked breezily.

She sighed. "You don't need to keep this act up till here."

"I'm just making sure that we're safe. What if one of them turns up in school and catches us not together?"

Unlikely, but she said no more. She merely watched as he took out his lunch and began to eat. She then noticed that his food was badly burnt. "Um, Yuki-kun?"

"Hmm, sweetheart?"

She blushed again. His endearment sounded so sweet to her ears. "Would you like some of mine?" She gestured to her own dish of dainty onigiri.

His grin widened. "Thanks." He took one piece and bit on it. He smiled at her brightly. "Delicious! You're a great cook!"

"You think so?" she asked eagerly. "This is Aya-san's recipe!"

At the mention of his brother's name, his smile faltered. "I…see…"

She wondered silently what made his mood change, but she chose not to ask anymore. "Very well, Yuki-kun, I'm coming late this afternoon because I'm going to visit a friend. Can you please tell Aya-san?"

He shrugged. "I'll call Shigure."

After a moment of silence, he continued. "I will go with you."

"Eh?"

That afternoon, Yuki was surprised when she brought him to a church. He watched as she knelt on the pew and prayed silently. He felt himself smile slowly.

How ever could have I ever accused her of being my brother's whore?

She finished her prayer, then turned to him. "I'll just have one more thing to do."

"No problem."

He then found themselves in the backyard of the garden. Tohru put on her gloves and took the pail of water. "Will you still wait for me? I'll just water the plants and-"

Yuki wordlessly took the pail.

"Yuki-kun, y-you'll get dirty!" she said, panicking. He was wearing an immaculate white uniform while she was wearing her gardening clothes.

"I'm going to get dirty…with you." He smiled meaningfully at her.

Her chore was hastened, thanks to Yuki, whom she discovered has a green thumb too.

"I would like to grow some flowering plants here too," she narrated animatedly as he listened to her. "Roses, of course, but I also like some daisies here too. Orchids? Nah, too expensive. All I know is that I want to make this garden beautiful!"

Yuki laughed. "A paradise indeed."

"Then I'm going to make this my venue for my wedding! My dream wedding! With lots of flowers! Oh!" she sighed dreamily. "Aya-san will make me a beautiful gown!"

He was silenced. Ayame again?

"Yuki-kun?"

"Hmm?"

"Aya-san told me…that you were suppose to marry Sohma Kagura-san," she began nervously. "W-Why?"

He exhaled sharply. "I thought I made it perfectly clear that you must not ask about personal things?"

"Ah, I'm so sorry!" She bowed, regretting that her curiosity made the good mood between them evaporate.

He looked away. "Let's go home."

"H-Hai!"

Yuki watched as Ayame greeted Tohru warmly at the doorway. The girl hugged him affectionately, and he turned into a snake. They didn't notice him leaning on the light post.

After a few more minutes, he left wordlessly.

Okaasan, I still have a lot of questions to ask Yuki-kun. About his relationship with Kagura-san. About the rumors regarding his gender. However, I'm afraid that we'll stop being good friends, and I don't want that to happen. I guess more than the thought of playing a practical joke on Aya-san, it's making friends with him. And then maybe, I can eventually talk him into making friends with Aya-san again.

tsuzuku